According to AAA, a year-end spike in road trip travel pushed up the national average of a gallon of gasoline to $2.58–up four cents. Californians are paying on average $3.56.
“The majority of states saw gas prices increase in the last week – some by as much as a nickel to a dime, but any spikes in gas prices that motorists are seeing will be short-lived,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “AAA expects gas prices to decrease following the holidays.”
In 2019, the national gas price average was $2.61, which is ten cents cheaper than the 2018 average of $2.71.
West Coast
Pump prices in the region continued to decline last week. On the week, Alaska (-4 cents) saw the largest decreases in the region. Hawaii ($3.65) and California ($3.56) remain the most expensive markets in the country. Washington ($3.16), Nevada ($3.04), Oregon ($3.03), Alaska ($2.99) and Arizona ($2.83) follow.
Increased gasoline stocks continue to help put downward pressure on pump prices, even as demand remains robust. According to EIA’s report for the week ending on December 20, total gas stocks in the region fell slightly from 31.63 million bbl to 31.58 million bbl. The current supply level is 4.52 million bbl higher than last year’s level at this time, which will likely continue to help prices in the region decline throughout the week.
